Apparatus for artificial respiration



Nov. 7, 1950 LQBQ 2,529,258

APPARATUS FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Filed Sept. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FERNANDO GONZALEZ LOBO BY wag 95m ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1950 L050 2,529,258

' APPARATUS FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Filed Sept. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \N VEN TOR FERNANDO GONZALEZ L080 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 APPARATU S FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Fernando Gonzalez Lobo, Buenos Aires, Argentina .Applicatiomseptember 21, 1946, Serial.No. -698,-470

. In Argentina J uly 4,'1946 This invention refers to an apparatus for producing artificial respiration, applicable to the chest of an individual attacked by asphyxia under its different forms (immersion, strangulation, etc.) or having suffered a syncope, an electric shock, etc. The apparatus may likewise be used for respiratory gymnastics, both as an exercise or for fighting certain pulmonary diseases.

Owing to the special features of the apparatus, the limbs as well as the excretion ducts of the patient under the effects of asphyxia are leftfree and it will bepossible for any coadjuvating treatment, such as injections, drainages, transfusions, enemas, massages, etc., to be carried out. On the other hand, the small size of the apparatus and its 'dismountability allow the same to be readily taken about and thus be made to operate right on the spot of an accident as well as during the conveyance of the patient in the veryvehicle in which he is riding.

Again, this apparatus may be applied in any position occupied by the patient, that is to say, while he lies with his mouth either downwardly or upwardly, while he stands, while he is seated, and so on, as may be required by the nature of the disease or by the doctors prescription. .The'invention essentially comprises a cuirass divided in two portions, a breastplate and a backplate, which may be combined so as to surround the trunk of an individual. The inside is provided with a pneumatic chamber enveloping the said trunk like a waistcoat, and this chamber 1 Claim. (01. 128 -28) is made to operate by means of a pump or bellows to bring about artificial respiration by pressing and releasing the patients breast in accordance with the respiratory rhythm, that is to say. positive and negative pressure is exerted directly on the thorax and the abdomen in an ample and efficient manner .for the purpose sought.

The invention is illustrated in various figures on the accompanying drawings in order that it may be readily put intopractice. On these drawmgs:

Fig. 11 is a front view of the apparatus as a whole,

Fig. is a cross section along line A-B,

Fig. 3 is a center sectional view detailing the connection of one of the sleeves of the cuirass,

Fig. 4 is illustrative of the two pieces constituting this connection, being a front view of their contacting surfaces,

Fig. 5 is a section along C-D of the detail of the connection combining the two portions of the cuirass,

Fig.6 is a central section showing one of the mouthpieces connecting'the pneumatic cha-m ber to a pump or bellows notshown,

Fig. 7 is a central section showing the other mouthpiece connecting the same chamber, this mouthpiece providing a valve,

Fig. 8 is a partially sectional view along line E-F of the detail referred to in the foregoing figure,

Fig. 9 is a section along line GH.

The structure in accordance with the accompanying drawings consists, roughly speaking, of the breastplate l and the backplate I constitutingthe apparatus and having the flanges 2-2, respectively, at their margins where the two pieces are joined together (Fig. 1, 2 and 5), an elastic packing 3 of rubber or similar material being interposed between the contacting surfaces. To secure the saidpieces ll to one another the external portion of the flanges :2-2 carries the angle pieces 4-4, the first one of which has the screw 5 pivoting therein while the second one is provided with a groove 6 through which the said screw 5 passes to receive the butterfly nut 1 whereby the adjustment is carried out.

The portion affording the connection of the sleeves (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is constituted by the washer 9 having all its circular. front provided with the *fiange I!) whereon the upper mouth of sleeve 8 abuts, and as the latter is of a resilient material it is secured at that place. Furthermore, the said washer 9 has its other face equipped with a series of rigidly secured bolts ll registering with the slots I2 on the flanges 2" of "the breastplate I and the backplate I so as to afford a bayonet connection. The said slots 12 have a widened portion for the heads of the bolts H to pass through and be held in place inside the very slots I2 after a rotating movement has been imparted the washer 9 to accomplish the connection. Anelastic packing cord l3'is interposed between the washer 9 and the flanges 2 to obtain an impervious seal.

Housed within the cuirass composed of the breastplate l and the backplate l' is the pneumaticchamber 14 made of two halves, one for the pectoral zone and the other one for the back. The inside of these portions of the cuirass I-l is clad with a padding IE to soften pressure on the patients body in case he has to lie horizontally or lean against the back Of a chair with v the apparatus around him, this arrangement be- "ing of particular benefit in certain instances when the chambers I4 will be deflated, with their elasticity of no avail.

The connection of one of the said chambers [4, i. e., the mouthpieces connecting it to a pump or bellows, is illustrated in detail in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The mouthpiece of Fig. 6 is made up by a tube It having exteriorly integral therewith the flange I1 onto which the corresponding chamber M is anchored after previously slipping its mouth over the tube IS, the nut I8 being used for the adjustment, to which effect it is threaded on from the rear end of said tube I6. The other end also receives a nut, I9, to secure the whole to the backplate I of the cuirass, the tube I6 passing through the same and the flange I! being seated at the rear thereof. The end of the tube I6 which remains within the chamber I 4 is provided with a couple of holes to assure air circulation. The other end of tube I6 is in teriorly conical as will be noted from 2 I, in order to be able to adjust the mouthpiece 22 (Fig. 2) when the apparatus is connected for operation with a pump or bellows by means of the flexible tube 23.

The second mouthpiece belonging to the other chamber 14 (Figs. 7 to 9) is composed of the same devices as the first mouthpiece, the only diflerence being that the tube l6 has added thereto the box 24 wherein is lodged the valve 25 constituted by a simple coaxial washer which acts on the holes 26 made in box 24 at the side thereof registering with the interior portion of the cuirass I. In this way, the air remaining within the cuirass, exteriorly with respect to the chambers I4, may escape through these holes 28 together with that escaping from the chambers I4, but when air enters these chambers, the holes 25 are covered by valve 25. I

The bottom portion of cuirass l-I' is fitted with an elastic tube 27 (Fig. 1) to embrace the patients hips to which eiTect it contains a certain amount of slightly compressed air.

It will be well for the chambers I4 to be fas- I tened by means of the ribbons 28 (Fig. 2) to the pads l5 so they may stay in their respective positions when the apparatus is taken ofi the patients body, thereby avoiding delays in refitting them in place.

The top portion of cuirass I-I has the elastic neck 29 (Fig. 1) which is applied thereto in the same manner as is the sleeve 8 to the flanges I0 (Fig. 3), for Which reason no special description. is needed in this respect.

The operation is as follows:

To place the apparatus on the patients body the two portions thereof, i. e., the breastplate I and the backplate I, are applied to their respective seats and connected with one another by means of the screws 5 and nuts I (Figs. 1 and 5) until they are perfectly well combined with one another. Thereafter the neck 29 is put on by slipping it over the head until it fits properly on the cuirass, whereupon it is locked on to the throat by means of the straps 30. Then the sleeves 8 already equipped with the washers 9 are put in place by having the bolts II engage the slots I2 of the flanges 2" and imparting to the said washers 9 a slight rotating movement, as in the case of bayonet connections. Finally, the

mouthpieces 22 are introduced in the inlets or ends of the tubes I6, when the apparatus will be ready for operation by the aid of a pump or bellows. This pump, as will be readily appreciated, will work synchronously with the respiratory rhythm. When the chambers l4 become inflated, a uniform pressure will be exerted on the whole chest of the patient, and when the same air is evacuated or sucked off, the corresponding counterpressure will be brought about, whereby the artificial respiration as sought is attained.

Somewhere else it has already been explained that the air foreign to that of the chambers l4 will escape through the holes 26 (Figs. 7 and 9) when the pump or bellows is at its sucking stroke, so as to afford the chambers l4 liberty of action within the reach of the cuirass I-l', so that the pressure they receive will act within a medium a little lower, relatively, than the atmospheric pressure, whereby the action of the apparatus is rendered more efficient.

The tight seals at the neck, the arms and the waist prevent air from entering from the outside, whereby the just described eiTect is obtained.

Having .now fully described and ascertained the nature of my present invention and in what manner the same is to be carried into practice, I declare that what I claim is:

An apparatus for artificial respiration, comprising, in combination, a breast plate, a back plate, flanges connected with said plates and located opposite each other when the plates are joined, an elastic packing between adjacent surfaces of said flanges, locking means carried by said flanges for providing an airtight look therebetween, said plates having sleeve openings and a neck opening formed therein, flanges around the edges of said sleeve openings, resilient sleeves, washers carried by said sleeves and located opposite the last-mentioned flanges, bayonet locks between said washers and the last-mentioned flanges to provide an airtight lock between said plates and said sleeves, a padding upon the inner surfaces of said plates, means forming two separate pneumatic chambers adjacent the inner surfaces of said breast plate and said back plate respectively, resilient sealing means carried by said plates and enclosing said neck opening, and separate means for pumping air into and out of said chambers and including a one-way valve in one of said chambers.

FERNANDO GONZALEZ LOBO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Sellmeyer July 3, 

